Type 1 Diabetes: The Basics

Millions of people around the world live with diabetes or know someone living with diabetes.

Regardless of the type of diabetes, diabetes isn’t yet a curable disease. However, it is a very treatable disease, and no matter how frightening, annoying, and frustrating it can be, people with diabetes can live long, healthy, and happy lives. Our goal is to provide you the information, tools and resources to help make that happen.

An Overview

The majority of people have type 2 diabetes, but an important minority have type 1 diabetes (~5%). Contrary to popular belief, type 1 diabetes is not a childhood disease. It occurs at every age, in people of every race, and of every shape and size. In fact, there are more adults who have type 1 diabetes than children, although it was previously known as juvenile diabetes. 

In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the carbohydrates you eat into blood sugar, which it uses for energy. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives.

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